Principal Planning Officer

Are you a senior planning professional looking for a change? Could you thrive in a progressive public sector environment making a real difference to the resident of East Herts? Are you interested in supporting the delivery of one of the largest developments in the country? If so, we're looking for Principal Planning Officers to support exciting developments, including the Garden Town project at the Gilston Area and across East Hertfordshire to ensure we can meet the planning challenges of the 2020s and beyond. This is a great opportunity for a planning professional with experience dealing with major development proposals to join our organisation, situated in this rich and diverse and historic environment. You will play a key role in supporting the delivery of unique new development sites in the district, helping us achieve sustainable development where active and sustainable travel is the priority, to protect our unique array of heritage assets and conserve the beautiful natural environment that surrounds us while supporting the creation of new habitats and opportunities for nature recovery, recreation, health and wellbeing. So, if you want to join us at the head of the curve and become an innovator, designer and environmentalist helping to plan a prosperous future for East Hertfordshire, then apply today!

• We have posts available in our Gilston Planning Team which manage the Gilston Area allocation in the District Plan for 10,000 homes and extensive community infrastructure projects. We also have posts in the strategic delivery team which deal with other strategic and major development projects allocated in our District Plan. Please indicate in your application which post you are interested in.
• In line with their pay policy, EHC will review the application of the Market Forces Supplement annually, and if warranted, will make adjustments in liaison with affected staff.
The Role As a Principal Planning Officer in the Gilston Planning Team you will take a leading role in master-planning and managing a varied caseload of detailed approval applications. As a Principal Planning Officer in the Strategic Applications Team, you will manage a caseload of complex planning and related applications, including pre-application submissions, focusing on development management. Both roles will involve you exercising delegated powers to determine applications and to take a project managed approach to teams, leading and mentoring junior colleagues. Providing a service that is efficient and effective, you will oversee all stages of the process from initial assessment, through to committee reporting, legal agreements, conditions and appeals. You will also keep up to date with case laws, national and local policies and community needs to ensure that the planning process can deliver the best outputs and outcomes. Additionally, you will: - Present casework to decision making committees and in other public meetings - Respond promptly to customers' needs - Provide guidance, training and support to other team members This role will require you to visit and inspect land and development sites and other locations both within and beyond the district., We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing diversity and maintaining a firm commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We believe that creating inclusive environments leads to stronger collaboration and better outcomes in our work.

To be considered as a Principal Planning Officer, you will need: - Experience dealing with major development proposals - Experience and understanding of the planning legal obligation process - Project management experience - Experience dealing with planning issues and communicating these at committees and public meetings - Experience guiding, mentoring and supporting junior colleagues - A degree in Town and Country Planning and/or post graduate qualification in Town and Country Planning (or equivalent) - A current, valid driving licence, access to your own vehicle and the ability to travel across the district, occasionally at short notice